Nigeria to invest $3 billion in health by 2030

The federal government has revealed plans to invest an extra $3 billion in Nigeria's health sector by 2030. This is part of efforts to reduce reliance on foreign help and boost local health funding.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, made this announcement on Monday in Abuja. He spoke at a media conference for the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, which will take place from December 6 to 8, 2026.

Mr Pate stated that this conference is the first of its kind to be held in Africa. It will focus on turning global promises into real actions with the theme, "One Health: Advancing Global AMR Commitment through Local Action."

He addressed questions regarding the health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and the United States. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria and the US signed a five-year bilateral health MoU on December 19, 2025. This agreement falls under the US America First Global Health Strategy.

Mr Pate explained that the planned investment is part of a transition plan. Both countries aim for Nigeria to fully finance its health sector by 2030. "From now until 2030, the expectation is that the federal government will put in $3 billion into health, which is more than what the US government will contribute as it ramps down its contribution," he said.

He added that this plan shows Nigeria's view that long-term reliance on foreign aid is not in the country's best interest. "Our position is that dependency in the long run is not in our national interest on external support," he stated. "We articulated that we want Nigeria to exit from dependency from other entities over time."

Mr Pate acknowledged that fully funding the health sector would need more local investment. He noted that Nigeria is not yet in a position to completely finance its health needs. He said 15 Nigerian government institutions, including the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Health and Social Welfare, helped shape Nigeria's stance during talks with the US.

He pointed out that the US has supported health programs in Nigeria for about 25 years. These include efforts against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, benefiting millions of Nigerians. But after a change in US government policy in 2025, Nigeria decided to take on more responsibility for its health programs.

"How do we own it responsibly? So, with the US government, we agreed that we will have a transition. By 2030, they exit and we exit. That means we fully fund our health sector," he explained.

Mr Pate mentioned that President Bola Tinubu has increased local health funding. This includes allocating six percent of the government budget for health, which is part of efforts to boost Nigeria's contribution. He stressed that sustainable financing will need all levels of government to increase spending on health.

He said the transition aims to strengthen Nigeria's control over health programs and lessen dependence on funding decisions from other nations. "We cannot rely on somebody else's taxpayers funding for the health of Nigerians," he said.

Regarding the MoU, Mr Pate described it as a non-binding agreement for cooperation based on Nigeria's policies and laws. "The MoU that was signed with the US government is a non-binding MoU. It is anchored on Nigerian policy, national policies and laws, does not subvert our sovereignty or subvert US government sovereignty over their resources."

He added that either party can withdraw from the agreement at any time. Mr Pate said the Attorney-General of the Federation confirmed that the MoU does not compromise Nigeria's interests. He mentioned that the MoU is publicly available, and interested parties can request a copy from the ministry.

The minister stated that the agreement aligns with the government’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. This initiative focuses on better governance, stronger primary healthcare, expanded health insurance, local production, and improved health security.

He said the cooperation will enhance public health and laboratory capacity, including the detection of antimicrobial resistance. It will also promote local production of essential health items. Mr Pate stressed that strengthening local production and ensuring that local markets can supply essential medicines are key to reducing dependence on foreign aid.

He concluded by saying that the transition will require ongoing efforts and local investment. This is necessary to ensure Nigeria can meet its health priorities as foreign contributions decrease. He urged Nigerians to look closely at the agreement and its details. The government aims to strengthen national control over health financing and delivery.